Kashmir bus plunge leaves 27 dead

The accident happened at a village near Udhampur, 90km (55 miles) north-east of state winter capital, Jammu, on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

Many of the injured were said to be in serious condition.

The overcrowded bus skidded off a slippery road in wet conditions and plunged about 50 metres down into a ravine, police said.

Rescue effort

Police said a crane had been called to retrieve the wreckage but that rain was hampering work.

Soldiers, police and local residents joined the rescue effort, bringing the injured to the Udhampur district hospital.

Accidents are fairly common on the mountainous roads of northern India.

In December, 24 people died when a bus plunged into a river in the northern hill state of Uttaranchal Pradesh.